The 90° V-Twin and the V7

In parallel with moped production, however, Giulio Cesare Carcano began development of the first 90° V-Twin power unit, the engine that would soon grow to be the very symbol of Moto Guzzi.

The 703 cc Guzzi V7 came out in 1967. Well received by the market, the V7 was soon followed by the 750 cc V7 Special, and later by the legendary V7 Sport, a machine with extraordinary road holding and attractive modern styling.

America fell in love with this new Guzzi technology and Italian style, and work soon began on the Special, California and Ambassador versions.

These powerful and elegant Italian cruisers captured the American imagination to such an extent that they played star roles in a large number of films and adverts. These highly successful Guzzis fired a passion that still lives on in the States and still inspires thousands of fans of the Mandello Eagle.

In 1973, Moto Guzzi was acquired by De Tomaso Industries Inc.(D.T.I. Group).

Acquisition by De Tomaso heralded the start of production of a series of 4 cylinder models, culminating in the successful Guzzi 254 in 1975. But the Guzzi public clearly demonstrated that tradition counted for more than new ideas, and the company was quickly forced to return to the development of the classic 90° V twin that had grown to symbolise Mandello del Lario. Still during the De Tomaso era, after some curious experiments in the form of the 125 cc Tuttoturismo and Tuttoterreno, design efforts became concentrated more and more on style, in partial contrast with Moto Guzzi’s conservative reputation.